20250419005319A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Champion AERONCA 7AC · Crowley, LA · April 19, 2025

Date
April 19, 2025 · 15:30 local
Place
Crowley, LA
Phase of flight
Maneuver
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N83871
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN25LA161
Reported as
Champion Aeronca 7AC
Reported engine
Continental A&C65 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Student

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot descended from 700 to 200 feet to drop candy from the airplane to a family gathering. Pilot was distracted after dropping candy and aircraft struck the ground.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DESCENDED FROM 700 TO 200 FEET TO DROP CANDY FROM THE AIRPLANE TO A FAMILY GATHERING. PILOT WAS DISTRACTED AFTER DROPPING CANDY AND AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.